Stand Strong: Know your Why

“Clarity is power. The more clear you are on exactly what it is you want, the more your brain knows how to get you there.” – Anthony Robbins

Sometimes I work with athletes who are novices and need technique, strategy and dry land training advice. These paddlers tend to know that they want to be able to finish a race of a certain distance and in a reasonable time. They are generally excited as it might be there first race ever, or the first at a challenging distance.

Then there are those athletes who have some experience and know what they are doing for the most part and need some motivation and stimulation of the brain.

They often say “you’re into all the motivational stuff, how does it work?.” I tell them I’m not a motivator, but I will help you find you’re “why.”

When you know your “why,” you don’t hit snooze.

When you know your “why,” the weather forecast doesn’t faze you.

When you know your “why” you overcome obstacles.

when you know your “why,” you stick to your plan, diet, & training.

When you know your “why” you don’t count the cost. You do whatever it takes, one more rep, one more hour, whatever, because if you start to count the cost you might get intimidated and not follow through.

When you know your “why” it frees your mind up from clutter & distraction of “what ifs.”

Read inspirational stories! Listen to great speakers! Get top level instruction!

You can do all that, but if you don’t know your “why,” you won’t be as successful as you could be.

Your “why” will be uniquely yours. It doesn’t have to be approved or even make sense to anyone else.

It helps to write it down and even more to tell a friend who can help hold you accountable to it.

You can keep it simple, but not vague. To say “ I want to be the best I can be,” is wonderful, but to get the most out of that statement you need specifics!

Start broad and narrow it down as far as you can.

Zig Ziglar once said ; “Motivation may not last more than a day,but neither does bathing, so I recommend you do it daily!”

Knowing your why provides that daily motivation.

Mark Colino is the head coach at Stand Strong paddle Fitness in New Jersey, the Northeast rep for Starboard surf & sup and a longtime Mullethead.